Category Archives: News

Call for tighter regulation of early years training providers

Posted on by

Call for tighter regulation of early years training providers

Tighter regulation of training providers is needed to ensure that students are ready to enter the early years sector, according to the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA)

In response to Professor Cathy Nutbrown’s ongoing review of early education and childcare qualifications, the NDNA said the quality of the delivery of qualifications is a bigger issue than the content of qualifications.

After consultation with its members the NDNA response said employers believe that in many cases people completing qualifications are not “work ready”.

Stella Ziolkowski, NDNA’s director of quality and workforce development, said: “NDNA believes this should be addressed with more robust requirements for trainers to be up-to-date with practice and initiatives which should help to ensure that this knowledge is transferred and that learners are fully qualified upon completion of their course.

“Areas of development should include the requirement for trainers to have higher-level qualifications to enable them to effectively teach core elements, such as child development and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage.”

Ziolkowski said another issue facing the sector is its public perception of the level of skill required to do the job.

“There is an anomaly between the view of the sector and the demands the job actually entails, and there need to be actions taken to alter this, particularly with careers services that are the initial point of contact for those thinking of a career in the early year sector,” she said.

“Of course, the sector will struggle to recruit and retain a high-quality workforce in the future without better pay and continued targeted investment in the right level of training and qualifications.”

The organisation’s consultation response also included the suggestion of a licence to practise, which it said could improve the professionalism of the sector.

“There has been a real growth and very positive investment from governments in the early years sector over the past decade,” Ziolkowski added.

“The workforce is enthusiastic and committed to providing the best quality care and early education for children and we hope that changes to the qualifications will enable them to continue to do so.”

Statistics from the Ministry of Justice Kids involved in Public Law Applications

Posted on by
Statistics from the Ministry of Justice show that, in July to September 2011, care proceedings took on average 55 weeks. 7,700 children were involved in public law applications in the third quarter of 2011, up 28% from the same period in 2010. Children involved in private law applications showed an increase of 5%.
Source: Family Law 12 January 2012
Further information:
Ministry of Justice

Children’s Commissioner report looking at the immigration process undergone by unaccompanied children arriving in Kent

Posted on by
The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a report looking at the immigration process undergone by unaccompanied children arriving in Kent. It discusses: the ‘gentleman’s agreement’ in place between the UK and France, which conflicts with the UK Border Agency’s duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; and excessive periods of detention before being released into care.
Source: Children’s Commissioner for England – press release 17 January 2012
Further information:
Children & Young People Now 17 January 2012
   Landing in Dover: the immigration process undergone by unaccompanied children arriving in Kent

TACT published a research report looking at the risk and resilience factors that affect the likelihood of offending by children in care

Posted on by
TACT and the University of East Anglia have published a research report looking at the risk and resilience factors that affect the likelihood of offending by children in care. Findings include: the care system provides good care to abused and neglected children; early entry to care followed by sensitive parenting, a stable placement, and good support from agencies, minimises the risk of offending. Recommendations include: children entering care should have a full developmental screening; and care leavers should have the option to remain in supportive placements until the age of 21.
Source: The Adolescent and Children’s Trust (TACT) press release 16 January 2012
Further information:
Community Care 16 January 2012
   Looked after Children and Offending: Reducing Risk and Promoting Resilience

The Centre for Social Justice has published a report on the youth justice system

Posted on by
The Centre for Social Justice has published a report on the youth justice system. Its arguments include: the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales should be raised to 12; the youth justice system is being used to deal with problem cases that other services have been unable to tackle; and that the current system often promotes rather than reduces offending. Recommendations include a statutory duty on local authorities to provide early intervention services to children and families at risk of engaging in criminal behaviour.
Source: Centre for Social Justice 16 January 2012
Further information:
Centre for Social Justice – press release 16 January 2012
   Children & Young People Now 16 January 2012
   Rules of engagement: changing the heart of youth justice

Barnardo’s report on sexual exploitation in the UK

Posted on by
Barnardo’s has published a report on sexual exploitation in the UK, surveying 21 specialist services. Findings include: sexual exploitation is not being prioritised in some areas due to funding pressures; the number of sexually exploited children Barnardo’s works with has risen by 8.4% to 1,190; and awareness raising has reduced by 30% over the last year.
Source: Barnardos 17 January 2012
Further information:
Community Care 17 January 2012
   NSPCC Inform: child sexual exploitation
   Cutting them free: how is the UK progressing in protecting its children from sexual exploitation?

The Department for Education has developed an Excel-based tool which provides access to a wide range of data from various government departments

Posted on by
The Department for Education has developed an Excel-based tool which provides access to a wide range of data from various government departments related to children and young people. It brings together local authority performance and data items including: number and type of schools, social deprivation factors, health, and looked after children.
Source: Department for Education Local Area Interactive Tool (LAIT) 17 January 2012

SANDS published a report looking at what needs to be done to reduce the number of infant deaths

Posted on by
SANDS has published a report looking at what needs to be done to reduce the number of infant deaths each year. It calls for urgent action to reduce the number of deaths and argues that 1,200 deaths could be avoided through a combination of more research, better care and greater awareness of the risks of stillbirth and newborn baby death.
Source: Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS) press release 18 January 2012
Further information:
Children & Young People Now 18 January 2012
   Preventing babies’ deaths: what needs to be done
   Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS)

The Home Office published the latest homicide statistics victims under 16

Posted on by
The Home Office has published the latest homicide statistics, in Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2010/11 (Supplementary Volume 2 to Crime in England and Wales 2010/11). Includes statistics on homicide victims under 16 and the relationship with the principal suspect.
Source: Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2010/11 19 January 2012
Further information:
Crime in England and Wales: Quarterly Update to September 2011 19 January 2012
   Home Office research publications